COLLEGE SOCCER

Thirty-four of the nation's top men's college soccer players have been named finalists for the 2012 Soccer News Net College Boot award, recognizing the men's college player of the year.

The editors of each of the sites in the Soccer News Net network nominated up to five local players for the award, each of which will be eligible for the regional player of the year award. The nominations included athletes playing at colleges within each site's coverage area, as well as athletes from the area playing collegiately elsewhere in the country. Nine additional at-large selections rounded out the nominations.

Fans from across the country will be able to vote for the top collegiate player. Voting will continue until December 22, and will be conducted on Big Apple Soccer (www.bigapplesoccer.com), Chicagoland Soccer News (www.chicagolandsoccernews.com), LA Soccer News (www.lasoccernews.com), New England Soccer News (www.newenglandsoccernews.com), Philly Soccer News (www.phillysoccernews.com) and Dallas Soccer News. (www.dallassoccernews.com) and DC Soccer News (www.dcsoccernews.com) which will officially launch later this year, but is conducting voting as an introduction to the site.

Online fan voting will account for 40% of the total toward the award. The remaining 60% of the vote will be cast by the Soccer News Net editorial staff.

DALLAS SOCCER NEWS
Danny Garcia, Fr, M, North Carolina
Dallas, Tex. (WT White HS/FC Dallas)
North Carolina’s Danny Garcia established himself as one of the nation’s top rookies in 2012. The midfielder from Dallas, Texas, started in 16 of 18 games and was second on the team with 14 points on four goals and six assists. Garcia scored two game-winning goals this season, including the lone strike in a 1-0 win over Duke to propel the Tar Heels into the semifinals of the ACC Championship.

Jamie Ibarra, Jr, GK, SMU
Dallas, Tex. (Duncanville HS/FC Dallas Juniors)
Jaime Ibarra led Conference USA in goals against average (0.75), save percentage (0.880) and tied for the lead in shutouts (4) and saves (44) during C-USA play. He was the Dallas Soccer News College Player of the Week for the Week ending Oct. 7.

Dillon Powers, Sr, M, Notre Dame
Plano Tex. (Plano Senior HS/Andromeda SC)
Dillon Powers earned his fourth All-Big East honor, and first First Team selection, this season. He was a second team pick as a sophomore and junior and was on the all-rookie squad in 2009. The central midfielder has played in a team-high 69 straight games, including 56 consecutive starts, and posted career-high totals this season in points (14) and assists (6). His four goals this season have tied a career-best mark. He scored the only goal as the Irish defeated UConn 1-0 in the Big East semifinals, and collected two assists as the top-seeded Fighting Irish blanked Michigan 3-0 in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

BIG APPLE SOCCER
Jack Bennett, Sr, D, St. John’s
London, England (Tyler JC)
Jack Bennett transitioned from midfield to left back this season, started all 18 regular season games in that position and was named First Team Big East after leading the team in goals (5), assists (4) and points (14). He also tied for the team lead in game-winning goals with three.

Kevin Correa, SO, F, St. Francis
Flushing, NY (Flushing HS)
Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year Kevin Correa led the league with 11 goals and topped the conference in points with 25 through 18 games played, starting just six times. He also ranked first in points per game (1.39) and goals per game (0.61). He was in the top 25 nationwide in goals, and in the top 50 in goals-per-game, points and points-per-game. Correa was named to the All-Conference First Team and was the BigAppleSoccer.com College Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 21.

Leonardo Fernandes, Sr, M, Stony Brook
North Babylon, NY (North Babylon HS/BW Gottschee)
Leonardo Fernandes, a senior midfielder, is the America East Conference’s first-ever three-time Midfielder of the Year and just the second to win any major award three years in a row (2010-2012). The preseason All-American ranked second among league leaders in points (22), tied for third in goals (8) and was second in assists (6). Fernandes, who served as the focal point of an offense that ranked second in conference scoring at 1.69 goals per contest, earned America East Player of the Week honors on Sept. 17 and BigAppleSoccer.com College Player of the Week recognition for the week ending Sept. 30. He also was named to the America East Championship All-Tournament Team.

Shaun Foster, Jr, D, Hofstra
Southport, England (Stanley HS)
Shaun Foster was named Colonial Athletic Association Co-Defensive Player of the Year, making conference history by becoming the first three-time winner of the award, and First Team All-Conference after leading a Hofstra defense that allowed only 21 goals in 19 contests and posted seven shutouts, including four in CAA play. Offensively, Foster contributed two goals and an assist. Both goals were game-winners.

Jack McVey, Sr, M, Fairleigh Dickinson
Douglas, Isle of Man (St. Ninian’s/St. George’s AFC, NJ Rangers)
Fairleigh Dickinson midfielder Jack McVey earned his second straight All-NEC First Team nod, after leading the Knights in scoring for the second straight year and helping them to the No. 2 seed in the 2012 NEC Tournament. He scored five goals, including two game-winners, and handed out four assists for 14 points, a mark that ranked him ninth in the NEC. IN the postseason, McVey’s double-overtime header lifted the Knights over favored St. Louis and into the NCAA Sweet 16.

CHICAGOLAND SOCCER NEWS
Ryan Finley, Sr., F., Notre Dame
Lumberton, N.J. (Rancocas Valley/PDA)
Finley was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year and was one of two unanimous selections to the all-conference first team. He led all conference players with 12 goals in league play and ranked second nationally with 18 regular season goals in addition to being third in total points with 40. Finley had five multiple-goal games this season, including a hat trick against Providence.

Chris Ritter, S, M, Northwestern
Winnetka, Ill. (New Trier HS/Trevian Soccer Club)
A mainstay in the midfield for the Wildcats during the 2012 season, Chris Ritter started all 18 regular-season matches and contributed on both offense and defense as a senior captain on this year's Big Ten championship squad. The Winnetka, Ill., native helped the Wildcats play lockdown defense during the 2012 Big Ten regular season as the team only allowed three goals in conference play and posted a 0.45 goals-against average. On the other side of the ball, Ritter set career-highs in 2012, scoring five goals and adding five assists to finish the regular-season with 15 points. Ritter is now a two-time All-Big Ten honoree after making the second team in 2011.

Eriq Zavaleta, So, F, Indiana
Westfield, Ind. (Westfield, Bradenton Prep/Columbus Crew Juniors)
Eriq Zavaleta was a unanimous pick as Offensive Player of the Year and as an All-Big Ten first-team selection. This season Zavaleta tallied 16 goals and two assists in 18 matches. He led the conference in shots (79), shots per game (4.16), points (34), points per game (1.79), goals, goals per game (0.84) and game-winning goals (5). The sophomore had four multiple-goal games this season and scored at least one goal in three of the last four matches of the regular season. He is the second Hoosier in the last three years to win the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award (Will Bruin-2010) and the 12th Hoosier overall to be named a Big Ten Player of the Year. This is the second-straight season Zavaleta earned a spot on the first team. He also was named Freshman of the Year in 2011.

DC SOCCER NEWS
Brandon Allen, Fr, F, Georgetown
Old Bridge, NJ (St. Joseph HS/NY Red Bulls Academy)
Brandon Allen was named the Big East Rookie of the Year and also received recognition on the conference Second Team and All-Rookie Team. The forward led the Hoyas with 12 goals and two assists for 26 points as well as an impressive eight game-winning goals. He ranked third in points, third in goals and led the Big East in regular-season game winners, with three more than his closest competitors in that category.

Will Bates, Sr, F, Virginia
Chester, Va (Thomas Dale/Richmond Strikers)
Will Bates was named First-Team All-ACC for the second straight season; he also was a second-team honoree in 2009. He ranked second in the ACC with 11 goals this season and third in the conference in points with 23. A member of the Hermann Trophy Watch List, Bates is seventh in career goals (45) and 10th in career points (100) at Virginia. Three of Bates' 11 regular-season scores this year were game winners (Duke, Mount St. Mary's, High Point). He also scored the game-winning header on November 15 that lifted the Cavaliers into the NCAA second round for the first time since 2009. The forward played in 17 of the Cavaliers' regular season matches, with 14 consecutive starts, after returning from a knee injury suffered late in the 2011 season.

Pete Caringi III, Jr, F, UMBC
Perry Hall, MD (Calvert Hall/Baltimore Bays Chelsea)
Pete Caringi, a junior forward, was a unanimous choice for America East Striker of the Year. The conference’s leading scorer, Caringi racked up 32 points on 14 goals and four assists during the regular season, including nine goals in the last five games. Caringi was a three-time Player of the Week. Nine of his goals and 21 of his points came in America East games, both the fifth-most in league history and most by any player since 2003 and 2001,respectively.

Jason Johnson, Jr. F, Virginia Commonwealth
Happy News, Jamaica (Manchester H.S.)
In his first year in the Atlantic 10, Jason Johnson made quite an impression, pacing the league in four statistical categories, including points (32), points per game (1.88), goals (13) and goals per game (0.76). The junior forward was twice named A-10 Player of the Week. In his A-10 debut, he posted a goal and an assist to help the Rams upset 13th-ranked Charlotte, marking VCU’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2006.

Patrick Mullins, Jr, F, Maryland
New Orleans, La (Jesuit H.S./Chicago Fire Jrs.)
Patrick Mullins, a junior forward, led the ACC with 32 points on 12 goals, including six game winners, and eight assists heading into the ACC Championship semifinal game versus Clemson, and was named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. He bolsters a Maryland offense that leads the ACC and currently ranks second in the nation with 2.59 goals per game. Mullins is the second Maryland student-athlete to be named Offensive Player of the Year since the league split the player of the year award into offensive and defensive categories in 2004.

LA SOCCER NEWS
Dan Delgado, Sr, M, San Diego
Escondido, Calif. (San Pasquel HS)
Senior midfielder Dan Delgado earned his second consecutive first-team All-WCC nod after scoring seven goals in WCC play, which was tied for the second-most in the conference. Delgado was also tied for second with four assists in conference play. Overall, he led the Toreros with eight goals, five assists and 21 points through the regular season. Delgado remained hot into the postseason, leading the Toreros into the NCAA Sweet 16 with the equalizer and game-winning assist in a 2-1 first-round double overtime win over Cal State Northridge, and three assists in a 5-2 second-round victory over UCLA.

Ryan Hollingshead, Sr, M/F, UCLA
Granite Bay, Calif. (Granite Bay HS/Placer United Prestige)
Ryan Hollingshead is the fifth UCLA player to earn Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year honors. The senior midfielder tallied 20 points this season with six goals and five assists. Hollingshead is second on the team in both goals and assists, and led the Bruins to their 40th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance earning the No. 6 seed and a first-round bye.

Nic Ryan, Sr, M, UC Santa Barbara
San Jose, Calif. (Branham HS/Cal North ODP)
Nic Ryan is the fourth consecutive UCSB Gaucho to be named Big West Midfielder of the Year. The senior led the Gauchos and tied for third in the Big West with eight goals. He added three assists for 19 points, which also tied him for third conference-wide. Ryan contributed five goals and two assists against Big West opposition, accounting for game-winners against UC Riverside (Sept. 28) and UC Irvine (Oct. 5). He scored at least one point in 10 of UCSB's 19 matches, and his four game-winning goals are the conference's fourth-highest total. He also was named to the all-conference First Team.

NEW ENGLAND SOCCER NEWS
Carlos Alvarez, Sr., M, UConn
Los Angeles, Calif. (Bishop Mora Salesian HS/LAFC)
Carlos Alvarez was named Big East Midfielder of the Year after a season in which he was second on the Huskies with 21 points and seven goals. He registered a team-high eight assists – third in the Big East -- and his 22 points ranked fourth in the league. Alvarez is the fifth player from Connecticut to be named the Big East Midfielder of the Year since the award was established in 2000.

Don Anding, Sr., F, Northeastern
Amity Harbor, NY (Chaminade HS/Albertson Academy)
Don Anding is the first Northeastern player to receive CAA Player of the Year accolades. The senior led the conference with 28 points and ranked second in the league in goals (11), assists (6) and game-winning goals (5). He contributed either a goal or an assist in 12 of the Huskies' 17 contests, including his first career hat trick with three goals in a 5-2 victory over Holy Cross on Sept. 25. Anding, who was the CAA Rookie of the Year in 2009, is the first NU player since 2001 to score 10 or more goals in a season, and the first since 2007 to record more than 20 points in a season. He currently ranks third in career goals (22) at NU and is tied for fifth in career points (55).

Andre Blake, So., GK, UConn
May Pen, Jamaica (Clarendon College HS/Harbor View Youth)
Andre Blake won Big East Goalkeeper of the Year accolades for the second-straight year. A Connecticut player has won the award for the last three years as Josh Ford took home the honor in 2010. In his second season with the Huskies, Blake ranks fifth in the nation in goals-against average (.530) and ninth in save percentage (.850). In league play, Blake posted 30 saves, a 0.88 goals-against average and a .811 save percentage.

Conor Leland, Jr., GK, Vermont
Richmond, Vt. (Mount Mansfield Union)
Conor Leland, a junior goalkeeper who also picked up first-team all-conference honors, was a unanimous choice for America East Goalkeeper of the Year after leading the league in save percentage (.846), which also ranks 11th nationally, and goals-against average (0.79) and finishing the season tied for the conference lead in shutouts with six. Leland, who was named the conference’s Co-Player of the Week on Sept. 10, allowed just four goals and recorded four shutouts in seven conference games.

Reece Wilson, Sr, F, Central Connecticut State
London, England (John Fisher)
Reece Wilson, one of four Blue Devils honored by the EC for their achievements this season, led the Blue Devils in scoring for the second straight season and helped them to an 8-8-2 record, including a 6-3-1 mark in conference action. In 18 games played, he scored nine goals and handed out six assists for 24 points. From a conference perspective, the native of London, England ranked in the top-3 in nearly every offensive category, including second in points, points per game (1.33), goals and assists per game (0.33).

PHILLY SOCCER NEWS
Chris Harmon, Sr. M/F, Old Dominion
Downingtown, Pa. (Downingtown West HS/FC Delco)
One of the Colonial Athletic Association's top scorers, and a First Team All-CAA selection, Chris Harmon had nine goals and five assists for 24 total points. Harmon scored five of ODU's last seven goals this season. He led ODU and ranked third in the CAA with four game-winning goals.

Jared Martinelli, Fr, M, Temple
Mechanicsburg, PA (Cumberland Valley HS/HMMS Eagle FC ’93)
Jared Martinelli, a four-time A-10 Rookie of the Week and two-time Philly Soccer News College Player of the Week this season, scored 28 points in 2012, tied for eighth all-time for most points in a single season at Temple. The midfielder from Mechanicsburg, Pa. was ranked third in the nation for most points by a freshman through the regular season. Of his 28 points, 18 came from his nine goals, the most for an Owl since 2003 and is the third-most by first-year player at Temple. Five of his goals were game-winners, delivering half of the team's total wins. Martinelli became the third player in Temple history to notch double figures in the assists category when he tallied his 10th in the Owls' A-10 Tournament berth victory at La Salle on Oct. 28.

Nathan Page, Jr, M, Drexel
Norwich, England (Taverham/Norwich City Youth)
Nathan Page, a junior who missed nearly all of the 2011 season with injury, rebounded in 2012 to play a crucial role in the Dragons' success with nine goals and an assist. For a stretch from Oct. 6 through Oct. 24, Page scored in all six of the Dragons' games. In fact, he scored the only six goals Drexel managed from the 78th minute of their 2-0 win over UNCW until the 83rd minute of their 2-1 win at Hofstra.

AT-LARGE
Adam Bedell, Jr, M, Detroit
Livonia, Mich. (Churchill HS/Detroit City FC)
Detroit junior Adam Bedell was named the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Player of the Year, as well as the League’s Offensive Player of the Year, after leading the league with 11 goals and 27 points. Bedell’s five assists also tied for the League lead. Tied for 23rd nationally in goals, Bedell’s last goal of the regular season clinched Detroit’s first regular-season title since 2005. The junior was named the League’s Offensive Player of the Week on four occasions.

Scott Caldwell, Sr, M, Akron
Braintree Mass (Edison Academic Center-Bradenton, Fla./NE Revolution Academy)
Scott Caldwell earned the MAC Player of the Year award following a season where he finished first in the conference with 24 points and second in goals with nine. This season Caldwell was a candidate for the Hermann Trophy and is a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.

Daniel Haber, Jr, F, Cornell
Toronto, Ont. (York Mills Collegiate Institute/Spartacus)
Daniel Haber, a unanimous selection for the Ivy League Player of the Year by the league's coaches, is the first men's soccer Player of the Year in Cornell history. Haber had a league-high four goals in conference play and a league-high 18 goals overall. He had two Ivy League game-winners, including the lone tally in Cornell's 1-0 win at Columbia on Saturday night that clinched the league title. Haber led the country in goals per game and points per game, and he had five game-winning goals this year. Besides being named Player of the Year, Haber was also the league's lone unanimous choice to the All-Ivy First Team.

Scott Goodwin, Sr, GK, North Carolina
Raleigh, NC (Broughton HS/CASL)
Tar Heels netminder Scott Goodwin allowed only six goals all season for the nation’s best goals against average, .274. Goodwin’s clutch saves lifted Carolina into the NCAA round of 16, as he stopped three penalty kicks in a shootout win over UMBC.

Erik Hurtado, Sr., F, Santa Clara
Beaverton, Ore. (Westview H.S./ Westside Metros)
Erik Hurtado was named the West Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference with 2.08 points and 0.83 goals per game, 0.42 assists per match and five total game-winning goals in conference play. He consistently ranked among the NCAA's top-10 in scoring this season, and finished with 15 goals and seven assists for 37 points.

Adam Jahn Sr, F, Stanford
El Macero, CA (Jesuit H.S./ San Juan Lightning)
Adam Jahn was named All-Pac 12 First Team this season, after being named to the second team the previous three seasons. Jahn registered career bests of 13 goals, 30 points and four game-winning goals. He posted his first career hat trick, and the first Cardinal hat trick in 11 years, in a 6-1 victory over California, netting the equalizer and go-ahead goals either side of halftime, then adding the third by rifling a shot into the roof of the net in the 77th minute.

Mark Sherrod, RS Jr, F, Memphis
Knoxville, Tenn. (Carter HS/Knoxville FC)
Mark Sherrod is the second player to repeat as Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year. During conference matches, Sherrod was the league's top goal scorer (8), as well as its leader in points (17) and shots (48). He had 28 points for the season (12 goals, 4 assists) and posted a league-best 84 shots. Cast your vote for the Soccer News Net College Boot player of the year